VietNamNet Bridge - As more high-rises have been built in urban areas, more trees have been chopped down and the green space has shrunk.

The green space has shrunk

Trees, grass and surface water help ease urban heat. Street trees play a particularly important role because road surface area accounts for a large proportion of urban areas.

The 2016 report on national environment status released by MONRE (Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment) showed that the green space was just 2 square meters per capita, or 1/10 of the green space in well-developed cities in the world.

The 2016 report on national environment status released by MONRE (Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment) showed that the green space was just 2 square meters per capita, or 1/10 of the green space in well-developed cities in the world.

Experts sad that green areas were lost to make room for houses and buildings, and that the building density in large urban areas has become unreasonably high.

Hanoians are complaining about the lack of green space eliminated as a result of street and pavement concretization.

Tran Ngoc Chinh, chair of the Association of Urban Planning of Vietnam, commented that the land fund Hanoi reserved for verdure, park and flower garden development is modest. 

New urban areas lack public spaces such as parks, greenery areas and squares, affecting the quality of life.

Regarding the surface water area, Hanoi leads the country in the number of rivers and lakes. Hanoi has the large West Lake, Hoan Kiem and Truc Bach Lakes and 13 rivers. However, it still cannot take full advantage the surface water fund to improve the landscapes and urban life.

Chinh said a lot of rivers and lakes in Hanoi have been filled up by people. As a result, the surface water area has decreased, which has led to serious flooding in the rainy season. 

In the districts of Ha Dong, Cau Giay and Nam Tu Liem, rivers and lakes are covered by garbage, sand and waste from construction works.

The areas in the inner city have been expanded, but the land has been mostly reserved for houses and multistory buildings, while the area for public land, verdure, roads and bridges is inconsiderable. 

The AQI (air quality index) recorded at the air monitoring station at the US Embassy on Lang Ha street in Hanoi was 121 in 2016, higher than the permitted level of 100.

Nguyen Chi Thanh road, 2 kilometers long, was once considered one of the most beautiful roads in Hanoi with high proportion of greenery and surface water. 

However, analysts said it has degraded in recent years because of the rise of so many office buildings and multistory houses, and the decrease in green space.